A thief who stole caravans - including one that its owner used as his home - has been jailed for four years.

Darren Paul Douglas, 35, was involved in stealing three mobile homes from around North Wales along with other gang members.

Douglas, of Heol Mabon, Penycae, Wrexham , stole one caravan from the First 4 Cars garage in Trelawnyd, Flintshire , on October 26 last year.

CCTV cameras caught Douglas smashing the window of a car parked in front of the caravan so he could move it out of the way.

The vehicle, belonging to garage owner Richard Heath, was worth around £4,700.

The second caravan was stolen from Idris Williams at Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor . Mr Williams had used the vehicle as his home, and while it was valued at around £8,000, it contained sentimental items belonging to his late wife which he said were irreplacable.

Prosecutor Richard Edwards, at Caernarfon crown court, said the third theft of a caravan worth £22-23,000 was taken from Evans Caravans, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd on November 7.

Mr Edwards said that none of the stolen caravans had been recovered despite their registration and chassis numbers been given to police.

He said the defendant was charged after being stopped driving on the A55 . Analysis of his phone matched CCTV recordings of his car showed he was present when the theft took place.

Defending barrister Henry Hills said Douglas, who had committed 62 offences and appeared 24 times before the courts including 15 times for theft, had entered a “relatively early guilty plea” and asked for credit.

Sentencing Douglas to a total of four years in jail, Mr Recorder Peter Griffiths QC said: “You were part of a gang of criminals who have targeted caravans and spirited them away. They have completely gone.

“The most impact was the caravan that was the home of the victim.”

Chief Inspector Mark Armstrong said: “North Wales Police are pleased with the sentence handed down to Douglas. It was clear that he was part of a group of travelling criminals who had travelled to the Gwynedd area on a number of occasions to commit crime, believing that they could commit crime with impunity in our rural communities.

"Due to the hard work of local officers and our Priority Crime team, Douglas was identified and arrested, resulting in his appearance before the court today.

"The strength of this sentencing should send the message that travelling across North Wales to commit crime simply does not pay, and when caught the court will take a dim view of your activities."